Some federal workers in Milwaukee learn they may be furloughed

While the federal courthouse and most federal programs in the Milwaukee area will continue if there is a government shutdown, some non-essential employees will be furloughed.

Those workers learned that news as they were heading home Monday night.

"As of tomorrow, we're not operational. That's not the way to run a country," Federal Defender Services Executive Director Dan Stiller said.

WISN 12 News reporter Terry Sater asked Stiller what his hope is.

"That Congress gets its act together. You know, rule No. 1 of running a household, much less a country, is keep it operational," Stiller said.

Furloughed means unplanned days off and no paycheck.

"I'm told the judiciary policy is that for the next 10 days we're good to go. After that, we're in freefall. This is absurd," Stiller said. "So courts, pre-trial, probation, the clerk's office, the bankruptcy court and ourselves," Stiller said.

But since the needs of clients continue, some federal workers will continue without pay.

The Hunger Task Force sent out a news release saying federal funding for women, infants and children's food benefits would be some of the first federal dollars to be cut.

That could impact more than 100,000 local families.

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